Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

The second means to be used, if you would ¹grow strong in the inward man, is this, you must be diligent in the use of the means, as the Wise man saith, the hand of the diligent maketh rich; as diligence in a calling makes rich, so where there is much diligence in the use of the means of grace, there is much strength in the inward man; but no man gets spiritual strength, save they that are diligent, and therefore this is the reason, that men are not strong in this spiritual strength; because like the sluggard, they are not diligent in the use of the means, they take no pains for grace, and therefore it is that they get no increase: for according unto the proportion of your pains, so is the inward man strengthened, and as you use them more diligently, so you find the strength of them more operative and powerful: for it is in the soul, as it is in the body, if you be not diligent and careful to feed the body, it will wither and consume away, and grow weak; so if you feed not the soul diligently and use the means constantly, you will breed weakness in the soul, and the more secure and remiss you are in the performance ⟨p. 111⟩of holy duties, the weaker you are: it may be you think it will not weaken you to neglect private prayer; but omit it once, and it will make you careless, and the more you neglect, the more unfit and undisposed you will find your selves? So you may think you may profane one Sabbath, neglecting therein the duties required, and serving not God, but your own lusts: but beloved, it will make you secure, the more a man doth in this kind the more he may do: for this is true in every Art every act begets a habit, and a habit brings custom: so it is as true in good things, the beginning of good brings many particular good things, and therefore if you can but get your hearts in a frame of grace, you shall find a supply of grace, because Christ saith, Whosoever hath, to him shall be given: he that hath grace, and is careful in the use of the means by Gods appointment, he shall thrive in holiness: for if you but once get the beginnings of saving grace and be industrious, and vigilant, and careful to employ them, you will in time grow strong: you know what Christ said unto the servant that had used his Talent well, he had more given him, so if you be diligent in the use of the means, the inward man will grow strong:

The second meanes to bee used, if you would